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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Top Ten Tuesday: My Beauty and the Beast (Dream) Library
1:00 AM
It's Tuesday, time for my favorite weekly book meme! I've skipped the last couple topics either because I was out of town or because the topic du jour had me stumped. This week's prompt, Top Ten Books I've Read That I'd Like in My Personal Library, is problematic, too, since I don't even need a complete sentence to answer the question—ALL the books, people, ALL the books! So, I'm going to twist it up a little bit and go with Top Ten Personal Libraries I'd Love to Call My Own. Gazing at beautiful home libraries is always a good time, so I'm excited to show you some favorites from my Internet trolling.
Before we get to that, though, I just want to urge you to join in on the TTT fun. All you have to do is click over to That Artsy Reader Girl for some brief instructions, make your own list, then hop around the book blogosphere checking out other bloggers' lists. It's a good time and a great way to spread the love around our awesome online book community.
Okay, here we go with Top Ten Personal Libraries I'd Love to Call My Own:
Apparently, my dream library is one of two types—either the traditional Beauty and the Beast version like the first five below or the light, bright libraries with a view a la the last five. If I had my druthers, I'd build myself one of the former, with gleaming wooden shelves (that I'd hire someone else to dust), a roaring fireplace, a comfy chair, and, of course, floor-to-ceiling shelves. Since the latter is more practical (let's be honest), I could definitely "settle" for bright white bookshelves, a big window showcasing a lovely view, and a cushy armchair (my back wouldn't be able to handle a window seat). I guess it's a good thing I don't have libraries like these in my house because I'd never leave them ...
How about you? What would your dream home library look like? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Appealing Heroine and Twisty Mystery Make Series Debut an Engaging Start
7:24 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although Jazz Ramsey has a job she enjoys as an administrative assistant at St. Catherine's Preparatory Academy, a girls-only school in Cleveland, her real love is training cadaver dogs. One night, while running drills with a clever canine in an abandoned building, Jazz is shocked when Luther discovers a dead body. The remains are those of a young woman wearing Goth clothes and makeup. Underneath all the camouflage, Jazz is stunned to see a girl she recognizes. Kind of. Florentine "Florrie" Allen had a much more subtle appearance while she attended St. Catherine's, but there's no doubt it's her. What was she doing in the old, deserted building? Who hated the girl enough to strangle her to death? And what happened to Florrie to cause such a dramatic change in her appearance?
Jazz's ex-boyfriend, Detective Nick Kolesov, warns her to let the police handle the investigation, but she can't get Florrie out of her mind. She has to know what happened. While her amateur detecting brings her closer to the truth, it also puts her own life in danger. Can Jazz crack the case before the killer strikes again? Or will Luther be sniffing out her corpse next?
Kylie Logan has authored several cozy mystery series; The Scent of Murder is her first foray into more serious crime fiction. I'm glad she made the jump as this novel features an appealing heroine, a twisty plot, and dynamic prose, all elements I very much appreciate. It's an engaging whodunit that's compelling and fast-paced, but remains PG-13 in content, an unusual feat for books in this genre. I enjoyed Logan's descriptions of Cleveland's vibrant Tremont neighborhood as well as the warm relationships she creates between Jazz and her family. I'm also interested to see what happens between her and Nick. The Scent of Murder is the first book in the Jazz Ramsey series; I can't wait to see what happens in the next one!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of A Borrowing of Bones by Paula Munier)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Honestly, I can't remember where I picked up my copy of this book. Sorry, FTC.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Indistinctive Characters + Dull Plot + 150 Extra Pages = a Meh From Me
7:30 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A legendary Hollywood agent and producer, Fritz Hudson amassed a fortune. When he dies, his three daughters come together for the first time ever for the reading of his will. Cara, Allie, and Des are shocked to learn that their father was married to two women at the same time and that he actually has three daughters, not two. They're even more stunned to discover that, while all of them are poised to receive a large portion of their father's money, the payouts hinge on the completion of a special project. The women are tasked with working together to restore a crumbling theater in Fritz's small hometown of Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania. If they fail to complete the job, none of them will receive a penny.
None of the three women are thrilled about putting their real lives on hold to spend months living in a tiny backwater with siblings they don't know and/or can't stand. Reluctantly, they dive into the project, vowing to get it over with as fast as possible. Working together becomes easier as they come to love the grand old theater, discover an intriguing mystery, and get to know each other in ways they haven't before. Can they keep up the camaraderie through their various challenges and dramas? Or will they come together only to be torn apart again?
The Last Chance Matinee—the first book in the Hudson Sisters series by Mariah Stewart—tells a gentle, heartwarming story about an unorthodox request that becomes a blessing in disguise. It's an uplifting, mostly clean novel that features a quaint, small-town setting and a group of likable characters. What it doesn't have a lot of is conflict. That, coupled with the fact that it has about 150 pages too many, makes The Last Chance Matinee feel very looonnnggg. I almost put it down numerous times. The fact that the spotlighted sisters lack both depth and distinctive personalities added to the novel's dullness. I did end up plowing through the lengthy novel, but it was definitely a slog. Needless to say, I'm not going to bother with the book's sequels. Oh, well.
(Readalikes: I'm sure there are a million novels out there with a similar plot, but I'm coming up empty. Suggestions?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and some sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, August 19, 2019
Debut Psychological Thriller Sad, But Compelling
7:48 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
In the few months since her husband died in a pilot-suicide airliner crash, Tess Clarke has managed not to fall apart completely. Yet. Wracked with grief, she's plowing through her days with only enough energy to make meager meals for her 8-year-old son, walk him to school in her pajamas, and cry herself to sleep at night. Despite her brother-in-law's increasingly desperate attempts to get Tess to move ahead with taking care of her husband's probate, she's too numb to make any big decisions. All she wants is for time to reverse itself and go back to the days when life made sense.
When Shelley Lange, a concerned grief counselor, comes into Tess' life, it's as if a ray of sunshine has penetrated her gloom. For the first time since Mark's death, she feels a glimmer of hope. Then, strange things start happening—threatening phone calls, a shadowy form watching Tess' every move, and disturbing behavior from her brother-in-law. As things escalate, Tess is forced to question everything she thought she knew. Was steady, trustworthy Mark involved in something dangerous, something that led to his untimely death? Are Tess and her son safe? And who is Shelley, really? Why is she, a virtual stranger, so obsessed with Tess' son? As Tess searches for answers, she'll have to face some painful, heart-breaking truths, truths that could destroy what little sanity she has left.
The Perfect Son, a debut novel by Lauren North, is a compelling and twisty page-turner that kept me guessing until the end. I love psychological thrillers that keep me feeling off-kilter, never quite sure what's true and what's not, and this one did that well. Novels of this ilk are often gory, graphic, and disturbing—The Perfect Son is milder than the norm, a fact I very much appreciated. While it's a sad, depressing tale for sure, The Perfect Son also tells a compelling, engaging story that had me reading fast and furious to find out what was going to happen. I enjoyed it and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this talented debut author.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson and The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a copy of The Perfect Son from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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